Process for preparing an effervescent aqueous solution having an emollient action on the cuticle of the nails, composition for carrying out the said process and corresponding cosmetic treatment

Abstract

Preparation of an effervescent aqueous solution which has an emollient action on the cuticles of the nails, by dissolving the following anhydrous solid compounds substantially simultaneously in water: urea, pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid and an alkali metal and/or ammonium bicarbonate, and additional ingredients, the different compounds being introduced in the form of a mixture or of several separate mixtures prepared in advance. These mixtures are in pulverulent or tablet form. Composition for the preparation of the effervescent aqueous solution. Cosmetic treatment of the cuticle of the nails using the effervescent aqueous solution.

We claim: 
     
       1. Process for preparing an effervescent aqueous solution having an emollient action on the cuticle of the nails, intended for human treatment, characterized in that anhydrous solid compounds are introduced substantially simultaneously into an aqueous medium on the basis of 1 g to 15 g per 100 g of aqueous medium, in the following proportions referred to 100 parts by weight for the collective anhydrous solid compounds introduced: 10to 25 parts by weight of urea,   50 to 90 parts by weight of at least one alkali metal and/or ammonium bicarbonate and pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid (PCA), the weight ratio of the bicarbonate to PCA being between 1:4 and 4:1, and   0 to 40 parts by weight of at least one additional water-soluble ingredient selected from the group consisting of compounds, other than those mentioned above, having an emollient action, compounds having a pharmaceutical action for the treatment of the nails and cosmetically and pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvants; said process further including introducing at least one neutral or basis amino acid on the basis of 0.5 to 10% by weight relative to the collective anhydrous solid compounds introduced.   
     
     
       2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that water is used as an aqueous medium. 
     
     
       3. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the anhydrous solid compounds are introduced into the aqueous medium in the form of a single mixture or of several partial mixtures prepared beforehand. 
     
     
       4. Process according to claim 1 characterized in that the anhydrous solid compounds are introduced into the aqueous medium adopting the following proportions referred to 100 parts by weight for the collective anhydrous solid compounds introduced: 15 to 20 parts by weight of urea, and   70 to 85 parts by weight of at least one alkali metal or ammonium bicarbonate and pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid (PCA).   
     
     
       5. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the weight ratio of the bicarbonate to PCA is between 2:3 and 3:2. 
     
     
       6. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the amino acid is selected from the group consisting of arginine, lysine, histidine and proline. 
     
     
       7. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that, among additional ingredients, as a compound having a pharmaceutical action, at least one compound selected from water-soluble antifungal, antiseptic and antimicrobial agents, in cationic, anionic or nonionic form, is introduced, the said compound being used on the basis of 0.1 to 5% by weight relative to the collective anhydrous solid compounds introduced. 
     
     
       8. Process according to claim 7, characterized in that the compound having a pharmaceutical action is selected from the group consisting of benzalkonium or benzethonium chloride, hexamidine diisethionate, chlorhexidine digluconate and pyridinethione derivatives in acid form. 
     
     
       9. Process according to claim 1 characterized in that, as an acceptable adjuvant, at least one thickening agent giving a slight viscosity to the effervescent solution obtained is used on the basis of 0.05 to 3% by weight relative to the weight of the collective anhydrous solid compounds introduced, and at least one compaction binder is used on the basis of 0 to 30% by weight relative to the weight of the collective anhydrous solid compounds introduced, and at least one fragrance and/or at least one colouring is used. 
     
     
       10. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the aqueous medium is at a temperature of between 15° and 40° C. 
     
     
       11. Process for cosmetic treatment of the nails using the effervescent aqueous solution obtained by the process of claim 10, characterized in that the cuticle of the nails is brought into contact with the said solution for a sufficient time to obtain an emollient action. 
     
     
       12. Process according to claim 11, characterized in that the nails are dipped into the solution, and in that the said solution is left to act for at time of between 1 and 5 minutes. 
     
     
       13. Solid composition characterized in that is contains, in the same pack, in the form of a single mixture per 100 parts by weight: 10 to 25 parts by weight of urea,   50 to 90 parts by weight of at least one alkali metal or ammonium bicarbonate and pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid (PCA), the ratio of the bicarbonate to PCA being between 1:4 and 4:1,   0 to 40 parts of at least one additional water-soluble ingredient selected from the group composed of compounds, other than those mentioned above, having an emollient action, compounds having a pharmaceutical action for the treatment of the nails and an acceptable adjuvants,   at least one neutral or basic amino acid on the basis of 0.5 to 10% by weight relative to the collective anhydrous solid compounds introduced.   
     
     
       14. Composition according to claim 13, characterized in that it contains, per 100 parts by weight: 15 to 20 parts by weight of urea, and   70 to 85 parts by weight of at least one alkali metal and/or ammonium bicarbonate and pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid (PCA).   
     
     
       15. Composition according to claim 13, characterized in that the weight ratio of the bicarbonate to PCA is between 2:3 and 3:2. 
     
     
       16. Composition according to claim 13, characterized in that, among additional ingredients, the emollient agent is at least one neutral amino acid, present on the basis of 0.5 to 10% by weight relative to the weight of the collective anhydrous solid compounds introduced. 
     
     
       17. Composition according to claim 16, in which the anhydrous solid components are in the form of several separate partial mixtures, characterized in that the bicarbonate on the one hand and the PCA on the other hand are contained in two different partial mixtures. 
     
     
       18. Composition according to claim 17, wherein the urea is contained in the same partial mixture as the PCA and in that the bicarbonate is contained in the other partial mixture, the additional ingredients of an acidic nature being in the partial mixture containing the PCA and those having a basic nature being present in the partial mixture containing the bicarbonate. 
     
     
       19. Composition according to claim 18, characterized in that the mixture of anhydrous solid compounds is/are in pulverulent form. 
     
     
       20. Composition according to claim 19, characterized in that it is presented in the form of a pack containing at least two separate parts. 
     
     
       21. Composition according to claim 18, characterized in that the mixture of anhydrous solid compounds is/are in the form of a tablet obtained from a powder by compaction under pressure. 
     
     
       22. Composition according to claim 21, characterized in that it contains a compaction binder constituting at most 30% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
       23. Composition according to claim 21, characterized in that the disintegration time of the tablet is less than 5 minutes as a result of the choice of a suitable compaction pressure. 
     
     
       24. Composition according to claim 13, characterized in that, among additional ingredients, the compounds having a pharmaceutical action for treatment of the nails are provided with at least one compound selected from water-soluble antifungal, antiseptic and antimicrobial agents, in cationic, anionic or noionic form, the said being present on the basis of 0.1 to 5% by weight relative to the collective anhydrous solid compounds introduced. 
     
     
       25. Composition according to claim 13, characterized in that said acceptable adjuvants are selected from the group consisting of thickening agents present on the basis of 0.05 to 3% by weight, these percentages being taken relative to the weight of the collective anhydrous solid compounds introduced, fragrances and colourings. 
     
     
       26. Solid composition characterized in that it contains, in the same pack, in the form of several separate partial mixtures, per 100 parts by weight: 10 to 25 parts by weight of urea,   50to 90 parts by weight of at least one alkali metal or ammonium bicarbonate and pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid (PCA), the ratio of the bicarbonate to PCA being between 1:4 and 4:1,   0 to 40 parts of at least one additional water-soluble ingredient selected from the group composed of compounds, other than those mentioned above, having an emollient action, compounds having a pharmaceutical action for the treatment of the nails and acceptable adjuvants,   at least one neutral or basic amino acid on the basis of 0.5 to 10% by weight relative to the collective anhydrous solid compounds introduced.